William McBryar

WilliamMcBryar (February 14, 1861 – March 8, 1941) was a bi-racial Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army and a recipient of America's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions during the Cherry Creek Campaign in Arizona Territory.

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William McBryar was born February 14, 1861 in Elizabethtown, North Carolina to Rose Black. McBryar attended St. Augustine's Normal College starting in 1883 and entered the collegiate program in 1885.[1] On his individual service report, his listed "physics, political [economy], science of government, sociology" as areas of professional or scientific study and investigation other than military.[2] He also wrote that he studied "Latin and Spanish" and was able to speak Spanish.[2] He left college one year prior to graduating and appeared as a laborer in New York on the census.

McBryar enlisted in the 10th Cavalry on January 3, 1887 for a period of five years[3] and requested assignment on the frontier. A Buffalo Soldier in the United States Army, he received America's highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions during the March 7th, 1890 Cherry Creek Campaign in Arizona Territory while serving as a Sergeant in Company K of the 10th Cavalry Regiment.[3] On that day, he participated in an engagement in Arizona where he "[d]istinguished himself for coolness, bravery and marksmanship while his troop was in pursuit of hostile Apache Indians."[3] For his actions, Sergeant McBryar was awarded the Medal of Honor two months later, on May 15, 1890.[3]

He reenlisted in the 25th Infantry and was deployed to the Spanish American War, serving with distinction at the battle of El Caney, Cuba.

Capt E. A. Edwards, Capt, 25th Infantry wrote to the Adjutant General State of North Carolina in a May 30, 1898 stating

Sir,

I am informed by Sergeant William McBryar, Co. H. 25th Infantry, that his is an applicant for a commission in a colored regiment to be raised in North Carolina. I take pleasure in stating my belief that he is thoroughly competent to Command a Company in such a regiment. I Commanded H. Co. for a time and from my knowledge of him acquired while in that company can say he is intelligent, of good habits, unusual force, and more than average educational attainments. His knowledge & experience of field & officer work would be invaluable to a volunteer organization, and his courage is attested by the medal of honor earned by bravery in Indian Wrafare [sic]- Very Respectfully,

A second letter furnished to McBryar from 1LT V.A. Caldwell in 1898 reads

Sir:-

I take great pleasure in furnishing you this letter and trust it may aid you in obtaining the commission you desire. As Sergeant and Quartermaster Sergeant Co. H 25th U.S. Infantry your services were above criticism. When this Company, H, landed in Cuba, there being but one commissioned officer with it, you were assigned to the command of its second platoon; at the action of El Caney, you brought this platoon on the firing line advancing it under a very hot fire from the Spaniards, setting its men an example of coolness, bravery and soldierly bearing that gave its fire action a maximum value. In commanding the point of the rear guard July 2, '98, in the march from near El Caney to San Juan hill, when the company in performing this duty was separated from the U.S. forces, and with the road in its rear open to the Spanish forces, who threatened an attack, you displayed the same qualities of good judgement and coolness which have been noted in the El Caney fight, also while held in reserve under fire July 2d at San Juan hill. The sam [sic] may be said of the threatened night attack July 2d. In assisting in laying out and superintending the construction of detached earth works occupying exposed positions in front of the [sic] our main line of works, around Santiago, and in easy range of the Spanish works you showed a sound theoretical and practical knowledge of this duty. The same may be said of you about advance rear guard and outpost duties. In the case of health and forethought as to the Subsistence of the company you proved yourself thoroughly efficient.--I believe you thoroughly competent in character and education to render the United States intelligence and valuable services as a commissioned officer.

For his bravery, he received a commission as a First Lieutenant in the 8th U. S. Volunteer Infantry. A letter from the Adjutant General's Office, Washington dated September 7, 1898, to Col Huggins, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, states "McBryar, Goings and Gaither this day commissioned."[6] LT McBryar accepted via Western Union Telegraph on September 13, 1898.[7]

McBryar was sworn in as a First Lieutenant in the 8th U.S. Volunteer Infantry September 22, 1898 at Fort Thomas, Kentucky.[8] His oath of office reads:

I, William McBryar, having been appointed a First Lieutenant, 8th U.S. Vol. Inf. in the military service of the United States, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter:

So help me God.

William McBryar 8th U.S. V. Infantry

Sworn to and subscribed before me, at Fort Thomas Ky, this 22nd day of September, 1898.

1st Lieut. Wm. McBryar, 8th U.S. Vols., requests to be appointed in the 9th Vol. Infantry, as his regiment is about to be mustered out. McBryar got the medal of honor for gallantry in action against the Apaches March 8, 1890, and that and his gallantry at San Juan, secured him his present commission. He has hardly served long enough as a commissioned officer to reimburse him for his outfit, but the trouble is that we have a number of similar applications, and the few remaining immune regiments will not afford vacancies enough for more than one or two, and they are likely to be mustered out any day. His case appears certainly to be as deserving as any, but the best, that can be done is to keep him on the waiting list until a vacancy occurs, and then resubmit the case. In one respect he is better off than some other applicants, inasmuch as the expiration of his present commission he reverts to his position as Sergeant in the regular Army, and his service in the Vols. is credited in his longevity.

He accepted a commission as a 2LT in the 49th U.S. Volunteer Infantry and served with this regiment until it was mustered out June 1, 1900 at Presidio, CA.

McBryar reenlisted in 1905. A Declaration for Original Invalid Pension filed in the state of North Carolina, county of Guilford states

On this 8th day of June A. D. one thousand nine hundred and eleven personally appeared before me, a notary public within and for the county and State aforesaid, William McBryar, aged 50 years, a resident of Greensboro, county of Guilford resident of Greensboro, State of North Carolina, who being sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical person who was ENROLLED at Hickory, NC under the name of William McBryar on the 22d day of February, 1905, as a private in Troop G, 9th Cavalry (U.S.A.) and was DISCHARGED at Fort Leavenworth, Kans on the 19th day of December, 1905; that his personal description at enlistment was a follows: Age 42 years; height, 5 feet 5 1/2 inches; complexion [illegible] light; hair, grey; eyes, Bro #1. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kans. on or about the 22d day of March, 1905 he contracted rheumatism in his legs; that said rheumatism was of a mild nature at first, but is gradually growing worse, and is so severe at times as to render him unable to walk except by the aid of [illegible]. That he was treated in hospital as follows: at Fort Leavenworth, Kans. In hospital as stated above only. That he was employed in the military or naval service prior to February, 1905. That he has not been employed in the military or naval service since December 19, 1905.

He was discharged from the 9th Cavalry to accept a position in the U.S. Civil Service.

He married Ms. Sallie B. Waugh (born 1866, Forsyth County, NC)[10] on December 6, 1906 in Greensboro, North Carolina by Reverend J.G. Walker.[11] A record is on file at the Greensboro, North Carolina Court House.[11] This was the first marriage for both LT McBryar and Ms. Waugh, and no children were born to this union.[11] After Mrs. McBryar died in 1928 in North Wilkesboro, Wilkes County, NC and was buried at Union Cemetery, Greensboro, Guilford County, NC (Memorial ID 87758120),[10] LT McBryar remarried Ms. Lucy E. Sweatt of Lynch, Kentucky on July 13, 1933.[12] However, the marriage failed and ended in divorce on July 20, 1938.[12]

He died at age 80 at Mercy Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of cerebral thrombosis with arteriosclerosis as a contributory cause.[16] He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia.[17] On December 16, 2017, members of Tennessee State University's Alumni Association took part in the annual Wreaths Across America and laid a memorial wreath at LT McBryar's grave.

In 2017, Northwest Territorial Mint produced 100 commemorative coins with LT McBryar's likeness. They were distributed to veterans at Tennessee State University's Veterans Day ceremony on November 10, 2017.

Original oil painting by Dr. Samuel Dunson on loan to Tennessee State University by a private collection.

Two portraits of LT McBryar are known to exist, an oil wash by artist Jon Kardamis and an oil painting by Dr. Samuel Dunson. Both belong to a private collection and are on temporary display at Tennessee State University.